Inclusion imperative in fighting Xenophobia: Turner

Imtiaz Gul Pakistan needs to follow Canada’s footsteps in this regard

ISLAMABAD: Mainstream rejection of exclusionary principles is one way of defeating xenophobia, the counsellor political affairs of the Canadian High Commission Andrew Turner said on Saturday.

“Xenophobes are individuals who have never been exposed to people from other backgrounds. The doctrine of reasonable accommodation, for instance, allowed Sikhs to wear their turbans proudly, as long as it does not impede their function or public interest,” he said.

The acting high commissioner, during the closing ceremony of Pakistan Centre of Excellence’s (PACE) third round of collaborative workshops, stated that this mentality has allowed Canada to overcome xenophobia, improve social cohesion and celebrate diversity.

He concluded that Canada could serve as an example to emulate for Pakistan, a country with such rich diversity across a variety of vectors.

CRSS Executive Director Imtiaz Gul said that Pakistan can learn from how Canada has adjusted itself to the huge amount of challenges that had emerged from fallout of 9/11.

He added during his 2011 visit, he was struck by legal and administrative laws Canadians had adopted in which the paramount guiding principle was public interest. “Pakistan,” he stressed, “needs to do the same.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2016.